Articles
Flowering physiology of ornamental crops
Article number
1334_33
Pages
273 – 282
Language
English
Abstract
All year-round production is one of the most important keys to success in the commercial market of horticulture.
With many years of breeding activities and development of cultivation techniques, cut flowers of many species are now able to be produced all year-round.
The most important signal in nature for plants to bloom at a certain time of year is the seasonal fluctuation of day length and temperature.
Photoperiodism and thermoperiodism are major mechanisms to determine the flowering times.
Plants used as ornamental crops originated in various regions, so the external conditions required for flowering vary considerably depending on the species.
An understanding of the phenology and flowering physiology makes it possible to control flowering time for each floricultural crop.
Recent advances in molecular biology provide a deeper understanding of flowering physiology.
Florigen, once called a phantom hormone, is now recognized as an FT protein in which the gene is widely conserved in flowering plants.
Various cascades of gene expression start from environmental signals to and continue to the final flowering cue are the key components of photoperiodism and thermoperiodism.
Understanding this process will lead to the establishment of more sophisticated flowering control.
A particular problem in the tropical and subtropical regions is the effect of high temperature on flowering.
Delayed flowering and poor petal coloration due to high temperature are problematic for stable flower production in tropical and subtropical regions.
The elucidation of the actual conditions leading to these problems and the progress of countermeasures are also discussed.
With many years of breeding activities and development of cultivation techniques, cut flowers of many species are now able to be produced all year-round.
The most important signal in nature for plants to bloom at a certain time of year is the seasonal fluctuation of day length and temperature.
Photoperiodism and thermoperiodism are major mechanisms to determine the flowering times.
Plants used as ornamental crops originated in various regions, so the external conditions required for flowering vary considerably depending on the species.
An understanding of the phenology and flowering physiology makes it possible to control flowering time for each floricultural crop.
Recent advances in molecular biology provide a deeper understanding of flowering physiology.
Florigen, once called a phantom hormone, is now recognized as an FT protein in which the gene is widely conserved in flowering plants.
Various cascades of gene expression start from environmental signals to and continue to the final flowering cue are the key components of photoperiodism and thermoperiodism.
Understanding this process will lead to the establishment of more sophisticated flowering control.
A particular problem in the tropical and subtropical regions is the effect of high temperature on flowering.
Delayed flowering and poor petal coloration due to high temperature are problematic for stable flower production in tropical and subtropical regions.
The elucidation of the actual conditions leading to these problems and the progress of countermeasures are also discussed.
Authors
S. Fukai
Keywords
day length, florigen, photoperiodism, high temperature, thermoperiodism
Groups involved
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